Ryan Williams‘ business journey began unexpectedly on his sofa while caring for his newborn baby and exploring social media. At that time, he was working full-time in IT at a local university, never imagining that his online activities would evolve into a side gig or more.
As his parody accounts, primarily sports-related, began to gain followers and engagement, Ryan’s passion for this new venture grew.
One account in particular, “Deluded Brendan,” a parody of then Liverpool Football Club manager Brendan Rogers, attracted attention from major British sports accounts online. Eventually, the account won awards at the Football Blogging Awards, and Ryan had to take time off work to accept the nomination, all while keeping his involvement a secret from his colleagues.
Betting companies started reaching out to Ryan to promote through his accounts, and this was his first taste of turning his hobby into a viable business. As his accounts grew, so did his connections, leading him to meet Matt and Andrew and co-found It’s Gone Viral in 2016, which later became KOMI Group.
During the early years of social media’s honeymoon period, Ryan never felt confident enough to fully commit to entrepreneurship. He always kept himself open to the idea of returning to IT if things didn’t work out and treated the first year as more of a sabbatical than a make-or-break business venture.
The first major challenge they faced was hiring. As a three-man team based in Rochdale, they struggled with employees arriving late due to inconsistent trains.
The solution was to move the business to Manchester, which was a significant leap of faith due to a three-year commitment and higher rent. However, the decision proved to be the best they ever made, as the move facilitated the company’s growth and access to creative talent.
One of the most valuable lessons Ryan learned through working in social media was the power of adaptability. Social media trends change constantly, and as the business expanded into consulting services, they carried this versatile approach into everything they did.
Ryan’s advice to new entrepreneurs is not to be afraid of failing. He emphasizes that entrepreneurs are not successful because they wear every hat, but because they have a simple idea, put it into action, and learn on the job.
Ryan wishes he had known earlier that there is no ‘conventional’ way to become an entrepreneur. The best business owners make the most of their skills while building the perfect team to fill in the gaps. Ryan’s journey in entrepreneurship has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but the highs made it all worth it.
Now that he has moved on from the company he founded, his priority is empowering others to start their own businesses, challenge misconceptions, and feel confident in their ability to succeed.
If you would like to get in touch with Ryan Williams or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
